Metal-strand machine.



W. G. STAPLES. METAL STRAND MAOHINE.

AYPLIOATIOH PILEDvAPB-BS. 1909.

989,075. Patented Apr. 11,1911. .d

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WILLARD GRIFFIN STAPLES, OF NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

METAL-STRAND MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

Application led April 28, 1909. Serial No. 492,679.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLARD GRIFFIN STAPLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newburyport, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Strand Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates more particularly to means for producing continuous strands, threads, wires or bands of metal or other material by casting, and the primary object is to provide a novel, simple and practical apparatus that will produce an article of even character having any cross sectional conguration desired, and will coil the same into a neat and compact roll or bundle.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate modifications of the strand-forming margin of the disk.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment disclosed, a pair of substantially vertical parallel shafts 5 and 6 are employed that are disposed side by side and journaled in any suitable manner.

. Thus in the present embodiment, the lower ends of these shafts rotate in step bearings 7, while their upper portions are journaled in suitable boxes 8, xed to a bench 9 or other support. One of these shafts, as 6, has a pulley 10 secured to it, and power may be applied to this pulley from any suitable source. Both shafts also have pulleys 11 of the same diameter, around which pass a connecting belt 12, so that the shafts will rotate at the same rate of speed.

The upper end of the shaft 6 has fixed to it a strand-forming member 13 that is in the form of a horizontal disk. The outer margin of the upper face of this disk is cut away as illustrated at 14. Secured to the upper end of the shaft 5 is a strand-receiver, in the form of a basket 15 having a bottom 16 and a circular side wall 17, the upper margin of which is inturned, as illustrated at 18. This receiver or basket has an open top. Suitably supported at one side of the forming disk 13 1s a reservoir 19 for molten metal or other material, which reservoir can be heated by a gas burner 20 or any means desired. A spout 21 leads from this reservoir, and has a nozzle 22 that delivers on to the cut-away margin 14. A valve 23, located in the spout, controls the passage of the molten material therethrough.

In producing a strand, the forming disk 13 and basket are rotated, being driven at the same rate of speed, as above explained. Molten metal or other material placed in the reservoir 19, is allowed to flow through the spout 21, and is delivered on to the cut-away margin 14. This metal, when it strikes said margin, is drawn into a thread or strand, is cooled and is thrown from the disk into the basket. as illustrated in Fig. 1, where it is neatly and compactly coiled. In connection with the operation of the apparatus, it may be further explained that the purpose of the cut away margin 14 is to permit the metal to gather' a strand like body at the time it is thrown off the disk or table by centrifugal force. Metal falling onto a level surface does not gather body, but makes a thin fiber, so the beveled or equivalent cut-away margin 14 is one of the necessary features of this invention. It may be further explained that the metal is thrown off the disk or table, by centrifugal force, the moment it strikes the latter. The air, and the striking of the disk or table which is cool, cause the metal to quickly solidify and the rotary motion of the disk or table throws it off. The disk or strand reservoir 15 is so placed that when the metal flies off the disk or table, it falls of its own weight into the said reservoir which usually and preferably revolves at the same speed as the disk or table, but it will of course be understood that any of the woll known speed regulating means may be utilized should it be found necessary or desirable to change the speed rat-io between the two revolving parts. Even in the startingoperation, the action is automatic, that is to say, the metal is immediately thrown off of the disk or table after striking and solidifying on the latter.

The cross sectional configuration of the strand depends upon the cross sectional coniiguration of the margin 14. Thus if said margin is flat, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a flat band will be produced, but said margin may be cut into different shapes. For instance in Fig. 3, it is curved, as illustrated at 14a, and in Fig. 4, it is triangular, as shown at 141. Other Jforms can of course be produced. For instance, the margin may be roughened or made ornamental. In any ease, the strand will have the corresponding configuration. It will ofcourse be understood that the terni strand 7 is used generically to designate a strip, wire, or other continuous element cast by the mechanism.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will' be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a rotary strand-forming member having a substantially vertical axis of rotation and also having the outer margin of its upper face cut away to receive at this point the molten material, and a rotary receiving basket having an open top disposed slightly lower than the forming member, of means for rotating the member and basket, and means for feeding molten material to the outer margin of the forming member.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a rotary disk journaled on a substantially upright axis and having the outer margin of its upper face cut away to correspond to part of the cross sectional configuration of the strand to be produced, 40 of means for feeding molten material to said margin.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with parallel vertical shafts,-N of means for rotating the shafts at the same rate of speed and in the same direction, a disk secured to the upper end of one shaft and having the outer margin of its upper face cut away, a basket secured to the upper'; end of the other shaft and having an open top, and means for feeding molten material on to the upper eut away margin of the disk, said disk delivering the material into the basket. In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VVILLARD GRIFFIN STAPLES. lVitnesses:

CHARLES C. S'rooKMAN, GEORGE C. S'rooKMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. Y 

